THE National Union of Journalists (NUJ) has issued a statement voicing its concern about what it sees as “increasing attacks” on the media in Wales.

A statement from NUJ Welsh Executive Council reads as follows:

“Public interest journalism in Wales is fragile and these attacks are both unwarranted and damaging to our democracy. In one case, one of our members has had to seek police advice following threats on social media.

“NUJ Wales condemns unequivocally the recent attacks on Welsh media by Reform UK. Nigel Farage, the party’s leader, made a wholly unwarranted personal attack on Rhuanedd Richards, BBC Wales director, who is currently performing the role of interim director of nations for the BBC as a whole. 

“Without any evidence to back up his claim that BBC Wales is biased, he has sought to smear Ms Richards on the basis that she is a former chief executive of Plaid Cymru. This is unacceptable behaviour, and additionally so from someone who is paid handsomely to present his own show on another broadcaster, and has a vested interest in undermining the BBC. 

“Ms Richards, by contrast, is a television executive of the utmost integrity who is strongly committed to impartial broadcasting, a point she made clearly in a speech to the Voice of Listener and Viewer (VLV) Autumn Conference a few weeks ago.

“NUJ Wales also condemns the attempt to bully Nation.Cymru with legal threats following articles it has published about Reform UK. In particular, a story that exposed racist, homophobic and other offensive comments made by the man who is now the party’s director of communications, Ed Sumner. In threatening Nation.Cymru, Reform’s barrister has alleged that the news website breached Mr Sumner’s right to privacy. 

“Furthermore, the union is appalled at the revelation that in a message chat with Reform colleagues, Mr Sumner used highly offensive language to describe a respected Welsh journalist. 

“The NUJ calls on Senedd Members from all political parties to defend transparency, press freedom and be proactive in protecting and promoting public interest journalism in Wales.”